Sumatran Cruise

[surfmachine]

Ahoy shipmates, still enjoying the NW Sumatran islands and surfing huge right handers. Picked up a new crew in Sibolga last night and getting a new visa and then back out amongst the islands.

[daddle]

Sumatra...full foulies...is something wrong with that picture or are you simply punishing your new crew? Looks like you're doing ok out there. Cheers.

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by daddle

Sumatra...full foulies...is something wrong with that picture or are you simply punishing your new crew? Looks like you're doing ok out there. Cheers.

Southwest monsoon season! It's pouring here in Krabi right now.

[surfmachine]

Ahoy Daddle, I have copped more than my fair share of 40 knot squalls sailing from the banyaks to Sibolga and back again, makes for a quick trip on the easterly leg though, with a good North West up your stern? The new crew is good value and we are busy reprovisioning at Sibolga. Got a new gearbox for my Lewmar vanchor windlass, stripped a gear in the 5 month old windlass when caught the chain in the coral!!! Even had a shave at the barbers and a shampoo! Have you met John on Caccafuego?
Sometimes 9 yachts in the anchorage!
Fair winds from Keith..

[daddle]

Heh. Most excellent adventure, yes? I can't imagine wearing foulies down here in this heat. But rain drops at 40kts are painful. I just hide. I have not met Caccafuego, but life is a blur, he's around here somewhere. I'm now Labuan to get more 50 cent import beers, headed to Palau for some diving and a taste of the Micronesian culture. Back your way in a few months.

Other CF folks, quit your jobs, sell your stuff, get down here. This is unbelievably nice.

[surfmachine]

Thanks for the tip about Palau, Daddle! Beer in the can, bintangs are expensive in indonesia now? Micronesia will be good, have a safe trip mate and we may see you before Christmas in the Andaman Sea, when I return in November?
It actaully gets pretty chilly in the squalls, even though I have my bathers on underneath!!!

[surfmachine]

Ahoy shipmates!!
Back in Sibolga for reprovisioning and a new 30 day visa for Indonesia.
The surf in the Banyak Islands has been amazing and the weather has been pretty good, the old yacht is holding up very well and the new crew is learning to cook!
We plan to be back in Phuket by mid to late November 2010.
Fair winds from Keith.

[mikereed100]

Fullsuit, booties and hood? Things have changed in Sumatra! We plan to be in Phuket in January, then we'll be headed Daddle's way. If the refer is working come over for a cold one. If not, come over for a warm one.

Mike

[surfmachine]

Ahoy shipmates, check out some of the surf action featuring captain Keith Stirling at Bangaru Island in North West Sumatra, abouy 70 nautical miles offshore Sumatra, above the Mentawia?
Click on this link to view the water camera shots!
Pictures by keithstirling - Photobucket

[surfmachine]

Ahoy shipmates, now at Nias, really beautiful place full of super friendly people, a great anchorage, deep in Lagundri bay and top surf. Had my 60th birthday party on the beach last night, after a good surf, one barrel!! Bbbq chicken, and had the police chief as a guest an d 3 other police and a few local families, we are all "family" now!!!
Taking a heap of police and a journalist fishing this afternoon!
Cheers from Keith

[pressuredrop]

Thanks for keeping us updated, i love following your trip...

how do you find anchoring near the surf breaks, in most places can you anchor right outside the line up with no problems? (ie not too deep, good holding) Happy birthday and keep up the good work!!!

[surfmachine]

Ahoy pressuredrop!! Mostly very good holding, and yes you can anchor within paddling distance of all the surf breaks, but do not stay there at night as the dreaded Sumatran squalls come through at 3am in the morning and make your life hell!!! so, at Pulau Banyak, I anchor close to the break, it is deep inside the bay and protected anyway, at Bangarus,
I anchor 1.5 nmiles east, inside the bay so I dont have to pull the anchor up at the end of the day and move. I take the zodiac up there and sleep under an umbrella after 5 hours of surf and breakfast, then have an afternoon 4 hour session. The charter boats all move up and back every day, some stay and drag several miles in the night when the winds come!!!!

I always anchor in less than 10m and let out 57metres of chain, never dragged with that, did get the chain caught around the coral once at Bangarus and stripped the anchor windlass, so I stay put now!

Thanks for the birthday wishes mate. Nias, Lagundri bay is perfect this morning, glassy and double overhead!!!! Got 12 nice waves, out in the dark this morning!

Fair winds from Keith.

[SurferShane]

Dude I am so envious. This time of year all I do is sit in the freezing cold line-up listening to the stories of perfect surf from people returning from the Mentawais. To make the torture worse I even have a genuine Jerry Lopez gun one of his mates sold me after a trip to the same islands. Hopefully one day I will get my own back and disappear up there in my own little yacht!

[SurferShane]

I should have also mentioned I started a group on this site called Surfing and cruising http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/groups/39-surfing+%26amp%3B+cruising.html

Feel free to drop over and post a link to your thread?

Then I also forgot to mention how much I would love to surf double overhead Nias…..,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Boracay]

I don't want to cut in on your favourite break (too old, no good for a boogie board) but I'd love to know what sort of visa and cruising permit you've scored.